Systems and Methods for Creating Full-Color Image in Low Light

1. A color imaging system, comprising: a radiation sensitive sensor configured to receive multiple spectrums of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from a low-light scene and generate corresponding electrical signals, wherein the radiation sensitive sensor includes a first plurality of photosensitive pixels having clear, unfiltered pixels, and the radiation sensitive sensor includes a second plurality of photosensitive pixels having a filter, each of the photosensitive pixels configured to generate a corresponding electrical signal in response to receiving the electromagnetic radiation; and an image processor coupled to the radiation sensitive sensor and having circuitry configured to: generate a full-color image of the low-light scene based on the electrical signals generated by both the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels; and display the full-color image.

2. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the multiple spectrums of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation include both visible light and non-visible light.

3. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the low-light scene has an ambient light intensity of less than about 0.2 lux.

4. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to convert the full-color image into an RGB image.

5. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a selective wavelength filter that only allows light in a selected light channel to reach the second plurality of photosensitive pixels.

6. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels are assigned to multiple light channels such that the pixels assigned to a first light channel and the pixels assigned to a second light channel do not generate the same electrical signals in response to receiving electromagnetic radiation corresponding to color wavelengths to which the respective pixels are sensitive.

7. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal generated by each photosensitive pixel is a function of an intensity of light incident on the respective photosensitive pixel and the wavelengths to which the respective photosensitive pixel is sensitive.

8. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to estimate for each photosensitive pixel an intensity of light associated with a light channel to which that pixel is not sensitive based on a function of signals from other photosensitive pixels that are sensitive to the light channel.

9. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to adjust the electrical signals based on a sensitivity of the radiation sensitive sensor to respective wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation.

10. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the image processor is further configured to scale a first electrical signal generated by a first photosensitive pixel as a function of distance between the first photosensitive pixel and a second photosensitive pixel generating a second electrical signal that is stronger than the first electrical signal.

11. A method for producing a color image, comprising: receiving multiple spectrums of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from a low-light scene by a radiation sensitive sensor, wherein the radiation sensitive sensor includes a first plurality of photosensitive pixels having clear, unfiltered pixels, and the radiation sensitive sensor includes a second plurality of photosensitive pixels having a filter; generating an electrical signal corresponding to electromagnetic radiation received by each of the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels, by the radiation sensitive sensor; and generating a full-color image of the low-light scene, by an image processor, based on the electrical signals corresponding to both the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels; and displaying the full-color image.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multiple spectrums of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation include both visible light and non-visible light.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the low-light scene has an ambient light intensity of less than about 0.2 lux.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein further comprising converting the full-color image into an RGB image.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the filter is a selective wavelength filter that only allows light in a selected light channel to reach the second plurality of photosensitive pixels.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein: the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels are assigned to multiple light channels such that the pixels assigned to a first light channel and the pixels assigned to a second light channel do not generate the same electrical signals in response to receiving electromagnetic radiation corresponding color wavelengths to which the respective pixels are sensitive.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical signal corresponding to each photosensitive pixel is a function of an intensity of light incident on the respective photosensitive pixel and the wavelengths to which the respective photosensitive pixel is sensitive.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: estimating, for each photosensitive pixel, an intensity of light associated with a light channel to which that pixel is not sensitive based on a function of signals from other photosensitive pixels that are sensitive to the light channel.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the electrical signals based on a sensitivity of the radiation sensitive sensor to respective wavelengths of the electromagnetic radiation.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: scaling, by the image processor, a first electrical signal corresponding to a first photosensitive pixel as a function of distance between the first photosensitive pixel and a second photosensitive pixel that corresponds to a second electrical signal that is stronger than the first electrical signal.

21. The color imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of photosensitive pixels and the second plurality of photosensitive pixels are each configured to generate electrical signals in response to receiving the electromagnetic radiation of one or more preselected wavelengths.